Feed mechanism



E. T. KNETTER FEED MECHANISM April? 24, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12, 1948 Fla. 1

INVENTOR. ET. KNITTER BY E. T. KNITTER FEED MECHANISM Aprifi 24, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed June 12, 1948 INVENTOR. By ET. KNITTER ZMW A April 24, 1951 E. T. KNlTTER 2,549,75

FEED MECHANISM Filed June 12, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

IOI

IN V EN TOR.

Eff. KNITTER Aprifi 24, 1951 E. 'r. KNITTER FEED MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 12. 1948 FIG. 6

JNVENTOR. EQT. KNITTER flma Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FEED MECHANISM Elmer T. Knitter, Cleveland, Ohio Application June 12, 1948 Serial No. 32,689

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to machines for performing any of various operations upon uniformly shaped articles such, for example, as the stamping, engraving or printing of the same design, monogram, or the like on each of a large number of poker chips, dominoes, or any other articles of uniform size and shape. The invention relates particularly to fully automatic feed mechanisms for such machines, and, more specifically, to feed mechanisms that will feed the articles to be operated upon to the machine and collect them thereafter in an orderly manner such that only a simple hand operation is required to cause the same articles to be fed through the machine a second time in positions relatively inverted with respect to their positions during the, first pass through the machine, whereby the same operation will be performed on both sides of each article.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a feed mechanism of the general character mentioned which is relatively simple and inexpensive to make and which is adaptable for feeding a series of uniformly shaped objects to any of a variety of kinds of machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a feed mechanism that will collect the articles, after they have been operated upon, in an orderly fashion with the articles uniformly oriented for packing or any other subsequent handling that may be required.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a feed mechanism that will collect the articles, after they have been operated upon, in a receiving magazine that can also serve as a feeding magazine, and that will collect the articles in uniformly oriented positions within that magazine, so that the magazine may be easily and quickly removed from its collecting position and placed in a feeding position for feeding the same articles to the machine a second time, but in relatively inverted positions with respect to their first pass through the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic feed mechanism that incorporates the foregoing features in a rugged structure requiring a minimum amount of adjustment and maintenance and possessing a high degree of reliability in service. 1

Still other objects and advantages of the inscribed has been specifically designed for feeding disk-shaped articles, such as poker chips, to a stamping machine of the general character disclosed in my copending applications Serial No. 617,026, filed September 18, 1945 and now Patent No. 2,505,900 granted May 2, 1950, and Serial No. 704,000, filed October 18, 1946 and now abandoned. For clarity of illustration, the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in association with the form of stamping machine disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 of the latter of said copending applications, modified only in minor particulars to accommodate my new, fully automatic feed mechanism in place of the work supporting table disclosed therein. Only such parts of that stamping machine are shown and described herein in detail as appear conducive to a full and clear understanding of the present invention.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a stamping machine having my new feed mechanism mounted thereon;

-Figs.- 1 and 2, but with certain parts of the feed Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stamping machine and feed mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the feed mechanism of mechanism removed;

Fig. 4 is aplan view similar to Fig. 3, but shown partly in section and with additional parts of the feed mechanism removed;

; Fig. 5 is another plan view similar to Figs. 3

I and 4, but with still more parts removed; and

I upon which the frame 12 may be mounted by means of a plurality of suitable fastening elements, such as bolts I3 which pass through frame flanges I4 on opposite sides of the machine and are threaded into the base H. The frame l2 houses a mechanism disclosed in detail in both of my aforementioned copending applications (but not here shown) for effecting controlled reciprocation of a carriage 32 described briefly hereinafter. That mechanism is adapted to be driven by means of a constantly rotating shaft I8 that may pass through a back Wall of the frame I2. The shaft 18 may be journaled intermediate its ends in one bearing I9 formed integrally with the casting l2 and at its rearward end in a second position 'stamping machineand my new feed mechanism associated therewith "Referring againtoFig. 1

3 bearing formed on a bracket 22 bolted to the casting l2. A plurality of pulleys 23, 24, and 25 may be secured fast on the constantly rotating shaft I8 between the bearings i9 and 20 for selective engagement by a belt drive from any suitable source of power (not shown).

In the machine illustrated in my aforementioned application Serial No. 704,000, the mechanism for effecting reciprocation of the carriage 32 include a shaft 27 that extends transversely of the machine and is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings (not shown) in the side walls of the frame l2. To provide a power takeoff arrangement for driving the feed mechanism of the present invention, the shaft .2] may protrude through one side wall of the frame 12 for carrying a cam 28. In said application Serial No. 704,000, a normally disengaged driving con,- nection (not here shown) between the constantly rotating shaft 58 and the transverse shaft 21 is provided, the driving connection being adapted,

in response to manual manipulation of a suitable control lev'er,t'o cause the transverse shaft 21 to make one full revolution about its axis and then stop until the control lever is again actuated for the'same purpose. A portion of this driving con- 'nection may comprise a worm 29 on the con- "s'tantly rotating shaft [8, a gear or worm wheel 3| mounted on the transverse shaft 2'! so as normally to turn freely thereon, and a clutch mechanism (not here shown) that maybe manually actuated b the aforementioned control lever to lock the gear 3| to the transverse shaft 27 for one revolution of that shaft and then automatically release the gear 3| so that it will again turn freely on the transverse shaft and permit the latter to come to an immediate stop. Suitable clutches for that purpose are well known in the mechanical arts, and one particularly suitable form is disclosed in detail in my aforementioned appli cation Serial No. 617,126. Suitable mechanism for driving the reciprocating carriage 32 through one working cycle "during each revolution of the transverse shaft Ti -is disclosed in both of my aforementioned applications. In both of those applications, the clutch control lever -may be manually moved against a pring and immedi- 'ately released to engage the clutch for "one revolution, or it can be held in the clutch engaging psoition so that the elutch will remain engaged aindthe carriage willreciprocate constantly without interruption. Though operation of my new feed mechanism "is not dependent upon any particular manner in which reciprocation of 'the carriage may be controlled, it is contemplated that a suitable latch or look will beprovided for securmg'th clutch control lever in its clutch engaging for effecting continuous operation of the w 7 herein, the reciprocating carriage 32 is mountedon the front of the frame 12 for vertical reciprocation with respect j thereto, and any desired form of die holder 33 is rigidly secured thereto for movement there with. A die 34 for producing a selectedimpresconvenient se- A tape feeding on one side of the frame 12 and over a tape advancing drum ii that is adapted to be driven about its axis through a predetermined angle during each revolution of the transverse shaft 21, whereby an unused portion of the tape is moved directly under the die 34 during each cycle of its travel.

The foregoing general description of certain elements of the stamping machine forms no part of the present invention and have been disclosed herein only'to the extent deemed necessary or helpful in fully understanding the feed mechanism now to be described in detail. The features Tof the stamping machine which have been briefly described above are all more completely disclosed in one'form 'or another in both of my aforementioned copending applications.

My new and improved feed mechanism is prefierably constructed around a framework of four individual plates, which are superimposed one above another in a staggered fashion; A foundation plate at of this frame is shown in Fig. 2 resting upon a depressed :or rabbeted forward portion 40 of the stamping machine base H so as to position the feed mechanism longitudinally of the stamping machine.

The next higher .plate '41? of this frame (hereinafter designated 'a table plate for convenience) rests directly upon the foundation plate 45 and projects further rearwardly or inwardly with respect to the stamping machine. Theinward edge of the table :plate 33 has .a pair "of U-shaped notches '48 "('see Figs. 3 and 4) cut therein for receiving =aipair of bolts-49, which may a second spacer block 54 (Eig's 3 and 4), and a spacer sleeve 55"(Figs. l and 4)." The aforementioned screw "51, which serves to :secure the table plate antlifoundation platet'cgether, passes freely through'the'cover plate :52, the firsttspacer block 53, and the table "plate A! and is screwed into the foundationplate t5. Another screw 55 passes freely through .th'eacoverpl'ate 52 and the second spacer b1ockT54 and isI'screwed-into the table plate 47'. A third screw 5i passes freely lv throughthe "cover'p'late 512 and the spacer sleeve 55 and is screwed into the table plate ii.

A lowermost framezplatefifi"(hereinafter designated a trackpla'te for convenience) is disposed adjacent the forward "edge of the foundation plate 55 and is rigidiy'se'cure'd thereto by =apair of screws that pass upwardly 'throu'gh'th'e track plate and are threaded into a'pair of apertures 59 (Fig. 5) in the foundationipl'ate. As is clearly shownin Figs. 5 and '6 taken together, the track plate 58 extends laterally in both directions beyond the foundation plate :35.

A disk-shaped'feederplate1'30 1(Figs. 2, 3, and l) rests upon the table plate fi'lgand an'L shaped actuating lever rests fiat upon the feeder plate. Both the feederiplatezte andthe actuating lever 6| "are ro'tatably secured to the table plate tib 'meansoi-aib'ou'm. 'Thebolt i'it passes freely through the lever at the juncture of two 'anguiany clisposed legs there'df and through the positions table plate 41 into abutment with the upper surface of the foundation plate :35 for insuring that it may be tightened without unduly building up a frictional pressure between the two rotatable elements and the table plate.

The feeder plate til has four circular holes 64 drilled therethrough and centered at points located at equal distances from the axis of the feeder plate and equal angular distances apart with respect to that axis. The holes E i are all the same size and are. adapted to receive the poker chips which this particular embodiment of the feed mechanism was designed to handle. Rota- 'tion of the feeder plate 59 causes chips dropper into any one of the holes 64 therein to slide along the same circular path on the table plate 41 in a manner described hereinafter. The feeder plate 60 is rotated about its axis for this purpose by the actuating lever at through the medium of a pawl 65 that is adapted sequently to engage four uniformly spaced-apart notches 63 cut into the periphery of the feeder plate. The pawl G is pivotally mounted adjacent one end of a leg of the lever 62 i and one end of the pawl is held yieldably against the periphery of the feeder plate 68 by means of a small wire spring 6'1 secured on the lever adjacent the pawl.

The rotation of the feeder plate 68 is intermittent from one to another of four predetermined during each complete revolution. While the feeder plate is stationary in any one of these positions, it is yieldably held in that position by a small lever fill pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends between the cover plate 52 and the table plate 4? by means of a pin 69 secured at its opposite ends in the adjacent plates. The opposite end of the small lever 58 is provided with a rounded dog 1| that is adapted sequentially to seat in four uniformly spaced apart notches T2 of complementary contour in the periphery of the feeder plate 60. These notches 12 are so located on the periphery of the feeder plate 60 that one of the notches will be engaged by the dog Ii each time the feeder plate reaches any of its four predetermined stationary positions. The dog H is held yieldably against the periphery of the feeder plate to effect such engagement by means of a small wire spring '53 that is looped around the pin 69 with one end anchored to the cover plate 52 and the other end bearing against the small lever 68. The force exerted by the wire spring 73 is selected so that the feeder plate 68 will be held by the small lever 68 against counter-clockwise rotation resulting from friction between the feeder plate the actuating lever ti, but is not held against clockwise rotation when driven in that direction by the positive force applied through the actuating lever 6i.

A circular aperture 15 is cut through the cover plate 52, this aperture being of the same diameter as the apertures ii in the feeder plate St, and a short ring 75a, also of the same diameter, is attached to the bottom side of the coverplate, or is formed integrally therewith, in alignment with the aperture 15. The aperture 15 through the cover plate and the ring liia are located so that they are in vertical alignment with a hole '54 in the feeder plate whenever the feeder plate is in one of its four stationary positions. A poker chip dropping into the aperture15 of the cover plate may continue down through the ring 15a and rest upon the feeder plate 60 until it can drop further into an aligned chip receiving hole fi l in the feeder plate when the latter comes to :a stop. The succeeding movement of the feeder plate 60 carries that chip to a stamping position under the die 34 and moves another chip receiving aperture 64 into alignment with the aperture 15 in the cover plate 52 for receiving a chip therefrom.

A supply of poker chips is fed through the aperture 75 in the cover plate 52, as fast as they are carried away by the feeder plate Bil, from a magazine 16 mounted directly above the aperture in the cover plate. The magazine 16 comprises a tubular element 7! that is open at both ends, and identical mounting plates 18 are respectively secured to the two ends thereof. Each mounting plate 18 is centrally apertured to receive the adjacent end of the tubular element 1'! to which it is rigidly secured in any desired manner, as by screw threads or welding. The mounting plates 18 are square in outline with all four edges rabbeted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The magazine '18 is thus adapted to be selectively mounted in position on the cover plate 52 with either end of the magazine uppermost.

Three bars ill, 82, and 83 having identical undercut transverse sections (as shown in Fig. 1 for the bars ill and 83) are secured to the cover plate 52 by suitable fastening elements to form a three sided slot or pocket into which either mounting plate 18 of the magazine 16 may be slid. The bars BI, 82, and 83 are located so as to position the internal bore of the magazine 16 in precise vertical alignment with the aperture 15 in the cover plate 52. Two fastening elements 84 and 85, that may respectively be employed also for securing the oppositely disposed bars 8| and 83 in place, are so formed that they project upwardly a short distance to form anchor posts for the ends of a helical spring 86. The helical spring 86 is stretched partially around the tubular portion H of the magazine 18 with its opposite ends hooked onto the two fastening elements 84 and 85, thereby holding the magazine l6 firmly in its mounted position.

In Fig. l, a supply of poker chips 88 is shown in the magazine 16. When the magazine is full of chips, the weight thereof is amply suflicient to force the lowermost chip in the stack to drop quickly into an aperture 64 in the feeder plate 60 at the proper time. As the stack of chips approaches exhaustion, however, an additional weight on top of the stack is needed. For this purpose, a cylindrical weight 89 is placed on top of the stack of chips. A rod 90 is screwed into the top of the weight 89 and projects upwardly therefrom, terminating in an axially mounted disk 98 that is too large in diameter to enter the magazine. The length of the rod 90 is selected so that the disk 9| will contact and rest upon the top of the magazine as the weight 89 forces the last chip out of the magazine and into an aperture 64 in the feederplate 60.

When a chip has been carried by the feeder plate to from under the magazine 18 to a position under the die 34 and the die 34 has descended into forcible contact therewith, there is a tendency at times for the chip to stick to the die and be carried up with it on its return stroke. This tendency may be encountered even when an embossing tape is disposed between the die and chips being stamped thereby. To prevent this tendency, a thin, spring steel, retainer plate 92 is screwed to the table plate 41 with a spacer block 93 disposed therebetween. (Figs. 3 and 4.) The thickness of the spacer block 93 is prefer- "ably selec'ted so that retainer i site so lightly engages the top of each hip passing thereunder, and the "retainer plate is positioned laterally with respect to the stamping machine so that will remain over one edge :of chips stopped :in 1

the stamping position. Thus the retainer :plate 92 will prevent chips from being .liitedIby reason or any tendency for them to stick to the stamping the '34..

'With two 90 movements :from the stamping position, a chip is carried by the ieeder plate '60 to adischarge position. As shown in Fig.5, the

table plate ii is shaped to support the :chips throughout their travel from their :initial position thereon until "they reach the disohargepositiont At the discharge aposition, however, the

{table plate 43 is :cut away toform a 'ciroular aperture 195 Ithrough which the chips :m'ay :isu'ceessiveiy drop from thefeeder piate fiflfontreach- "this position.

Upon dro ping hem the feeder plate 60, the -=chi'ps fall onto the trackplate .58 .of ithefeed'er mechanism frame and between two parallel guide bars 96 $1 which are both fsecured rigidly to the track plate :58. One of the .guide' bars at is sapproiti matelysquare intransverse section and is secured on 'top of the traektp'late 58"by suitable fastening elements.

The other guide bar '9] preferably .L-shaped :transvers'e sec- :tionand is disposed with lone vertically disposed iflange against the forward edge of the track plate 58 and a horizontal flange. extending :under th'etrack plate and secured theretotbysuitable fastening z'lements eti (Fig 7 Each time a "chip drops through the discharge aperture 85 and .onto the 'track plate '58, it is moved to the left along the "track plate (viewing Figsxl, 3, .4, and 5:) to ase'condimagazine I16, to

. besd'es'cribed hereinafter, iin whichith'e chips are -;finally collected. .Movement of the chips :al'ong' the track plate '53 is effected by .a sliding .block I so having :a long guide strip is! suitably secured to one side thereof, as by welding, or initially formed integrallyth'erewithiif desired. The slid- :ing block Itdd and sits :guide strip I'ilI are adapted to ditzbetween the'twoiguide :bars :96 and 9.1 .and to slide 'alongthe track form-ed thereby "on the 'rtrack plate 5.8.

A cut-out and :turn'e'deup :tab I02 'at one noriner of fthetra'ck'plate fidnorrns a stop iorzlimiting' the travel of the t'sliding 'block "Hill toward :the fright, at limit "of its travel, the .tsliding tbloek :entirely .to the right of :the discharge iapertureriifi. As thesliding block lllflsapproaches this positioupitslides under :a'trip tlever 1'93, forc- :ing'the'tniplever upwardly. The trip lever 103 iis';pivotal1y5secured -to one side .of a block 104, -by means of .aipin iliidgandth'e block IM is'rlgidly secured by :suitztble fastening elements 'to the upper :side of the .:innermost Y guide '-'bar 96. Asso- I i plated with the trrp ilever l83'fis:an ejecting :lever Hi6 which is pivotailymounted on a'horizontally disposed pin 'Iili'i. '.This;.pin It]? is .mounted at its opposite .ends "in :two supporting brackets I08, which are in turn rigidly secured to the cover "plate 52 by .suitable fas ening elements 'or by welding. A first adjustable pin 1109 is "secured at one end :oi the ejecting :lever Add and projects downwardiyjnto Lcontact with the 1 trip :lever I303. At the iopposite end of ithe'iejecting .lever 165, a

second, similarly adjustablefpin III is secured and projects idownwardly through .a small aperture I12 in the scover plate :52. :pair of wire spring's Hi3 and tlddiarelooped. intermediate :their {ends around pppositely projecting ends of the.

lever pin I 01.. One end of both springs bears downwardly against the base .of its associated supporting bracket I B8,'and the other .endss of the springs are turned inwardly'toward each other and bear downwardly on the ejecting lever I06 to the right of the pin iIIll on which .itis pivotally mounted. Thereby, the-two wire springs II'BJand H4 'y ieldi-n'gly urge the .right hand end of the ejecting lever downwardly for keeping the first adjustable pin I09 constantly in contact with the trip lever I03. Thus, when the sliding blockflflil moves to the 'ri'ghtinto oontact with the limiting stop -I 62, thereby swinging the trip lever I 63 upwardly, the ejecting lever IE6 is actuated :to plunge the eject-pin I'1'I downwardly through the aperture II'2 of the cover plate 52,..through an aligned aperture of the Ifeeder plate .5'Q,I&Yld through the aligned dischargeaperture in the table plate --'4'I. This positively forces anychip that may be jammed in the feeder plate aperture 64 when it reaches the discharge position, to drop downwardly onto the track plate '58.

At the left hand end of the track'formed by the track plate 58 and the two guide bars .96 .and'zsl, a lifting plate H 5, having a "beveled right hand edge I I! and a raised left hand portion I'I:8,' is mounted on the track plate 58 directly in the path of chips pushed along the track b'y the sliding bl'ock Hill. The forward edge of the lifting plate H6 is spaced from the forward or outer guide bar 91 by an amount just sufficientto perinit the guide strip IUI of the Sliding block I139 to slide freely 'therebetween, thereby providing additional means' for accurately guiding the travel of the sliding block. "The rearward edge of "the lifting plate I It is tight against-the rearward or inner guide bar. The heights of the .two guide bars '96 and 91'and-of'thera'ised portion 118 of the lifting plate 'II 6 are the same, whereby they cooperate to form a level support for a positioning plate I I 9 having agener-ally rectangular aperture I'ZIlcut therethroug' h. The right handedge of the positioning plate I20 is bent upwardly to form a positioning 'flange I2I adapted to assist in positioning thes'econ'd magazine I16, in cooperation with two additional positioning-elements 'I'ZZIand 123-. The two-additionalpositioning elements 1'22 and I23 are generally similar "in transverses'e'ction to the three bars 8|, 82, and :83 which serve to position the first magazine "I6, each having one edge undercut (as shown for :one of the-positioning elements I22 in Fig. 5).. "The'rear-Ward .positioningelement I23 andthe forward :end of the left hand-positioning element I22 rest :upon a spacer'blo'ck -I 24. A number of suitably disposed screws are employed in convenient locations for securing rigidly'together the entire assembly'comprising the track plate-58,fthe li ftingplate :I I 6,-the spacer block .I2.4,".th'e positioning plate I! 9, :and the two undercut positioning elements I22.rand

I23. r r

The :secondmagazine I116 is identical .in allrespects with the first magazine .16 and is adapted to 'be dispensed with itslion-g itudinal axis vertical :and fcentered with :respect .to the generally rectangular ;.aperture 1-210 -.-i:nrthe positioning plate al'l'9. Thelower mounting plate 17.8 of the second magazine I'I-B'is'adapted to be slidrearwardly into the receiving :Jpocket formed hyithepositioning 'zflange 12 11 and the two jundeiput positioning elements :I22 :and A23, these "three positioning r'members .:being accurately iocated so as properly 'to position the second :ma'gazine 116. A fastenelement A 2-6 5558601111861 ito the. lefthand-positioning .ielement. I22, and ;.a :helical spring 5121 is detachablystretched partially around the tubular portion ITI of the second magazine lit, one end of the spring being hooked onto this fastening element I26 and the opposite end of the spring being hooked onto the same fastening element ad to which the similar spring 86 for the first magazine is secured. The second magazine lie is thereby held firmly in its'mounted position.

As a poker chip 88 is pushed to the left along the track formed on the track plate the bev eled edge I I! of the lifting plate i it acts as ramp and tilts the chip as shown in Fig. 6. As

the leading edge of this chip is raised upwardly against the bottom chip of any that may we viously have been received in stacked relation within the second magazine I16, such stack of chips as is already disposed therein is forced upwardly to the extent required to permit the tilted chip to slide thereunder and into alignment with the other chips in the stack. Thus, one chip after another can be fed upwardly into the second magazine I76 until all of the chips originally placed in the first magazine '16 have been operated upon by the stamping die at and have been moved into the second magazine H6.

All of the moving parts of the entire feed mechanism are synchronized in a similar manner by a pin and slot connection between the actuating lever 6| and the sliding block I00. This connection comprises an elongated slot I39 cut through one leg of the actuating lever 6! and a pin IBI- that is mounted in the guide strip Iili of the sliding block H30 and that projects upwardly into the slot I39. Thus, referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be readily observed that the following sequence of movements will result from movement of the sliding block I08: As the sliding block iiiil is moved from its extreme left hand position toward the right, the feeder plate Bil is held stationary against any frictional forces acting thereon by means of the dogs 'II on the small lever 58; and the pin I3I attached to the sliding block drives the actuating lever 6 I in a counterclockwise direction through an angle of 90. As the sliding block I reaches the stop I32 at the end of its travel toward the right, the pawl 55 falls into a new notch 66 in the feeder plate 60. During the last part of its travel toward the right, the sliding block I00 actuates the trip lever I03 and ejecting lever I06, thereby insuring that the last chip moved to the discharge position by the feeder plate 60 will have dropped therefrom onto the track therebelow and into the return path of the sliding block. Then, as the sliding block Iilil is moved back along the track toward the left, it pushes the chip in its path along the path ahead of it and into the second magazine I15. During movement of the sliding block 18% toward the left, the pin I3I attached thereto drives the actuating lever 61 in a clockwise direction, and the pawl 65, engaged with a notch 66 in the feeder plate 60, drives the feeder plate in a clockwise direction until both the feeder plate and actuating lever have turned about their common axis 62 through an angle of 90. The positive driving force thus applied to the feeder plate Gilis sufficient to force the dog H on the small lever 68 to ride out of one rounded notch in the feeder plate and along the outer edge thereof until it snaps'into the next such notch 90 further around the perimeter of the feeder plate. At this point, a chip in the feeder plate aperture 54 which has just reached the discharge position will normally drop downwardly until it rests on top of the sliding block H10, but still within the discharge aperture '15 of the table plate 41. As the sliding block I09 moves" The power to be received from the power takeoif mechanism, driven by the rotating cam 28 on the crankshaft 2'! of the stamping machine, is applied directly to the sliding block Iill for driving all the moving parts of the feed mechanism in the manner just described. This power takeoff mechanism comprises an oscillating arm I35 that is pivotally hung adjacent its upper end from a fixed pin I35 mounted in the adjacent sidewall of the machine frame i2. A short distance from its upper end, the arm I 35 carries a roller I31 that is rotatably mounted on the arm by a suitable bolt I38, and the roller rides against the edge of the cam 28. Adjacent its lower end, the arm I35 carries a clamping block I39 that is pivotally secured thereto by a suitable bolt MI. The clamping block I39 is drilled from end to end to provide an aperture through which one end of a cable I42 may be threaded, and a plurality of set screws I43 are screwed into the clamping block transversely with respect to that aperture and against the cable therein for anchoring the cable securely in the clamping block.

The cable i4 2 extends forwardly along one side of the stamping machine, passes around a fixed pulley MA, and is clamped in a secondi i i may be clamping block Hit. The pulley conveniently pivotally mounted on a suitable bearing bolt screwed upwardly into the bottom of the track plate of the feed mechanism. The second clamping block I46 is similar to the first described clamping block I 39, and is pivotally mounted on a suitable pin or bolt I 4? that is secured at its upper end to the sliding block ifit. A long slot I 48 is out through the track plate 58 to accommodate the pin M? as the sliding block moves back and forth along the track in which it is disposed.

The cable I42 is thus adapted to pull the sliding block iiii'i toward the left as the oscillating arm is swung clockwise (viewing Fig. 2) by the r0- tating cam 28. A reversing force is conveniently applied to the sliding block Illfi by a helical spring Ififi that is secured at one end to the second clamping block M5 in any desired manner. In view of the length of the path of travel of the sliding block 36, it is desirable that the helical spring we be of substantial length in order to minimize the per cent change in the magnitude of its tension as the sliding block moves along the, track. For this reason, the spring lEii is preferably extended around a second fixed pulley it I, which may be mounted in the same man ner as the other fixed pulley M4, and rearwardly to any conveniently located attachment point (not shown) on the stamping machine base II.

The above described power take-01f mechanism is obviously adapted to apply a positive force to the sliding block the, through the medium of the cable M2, for pulling the sliding block from right to left along its path of travel. This is the part of the cycle of the sliding block Hill when the greatest force is applied there'thrcugh to the other moving parts of the feed mechanism which are actuated thereby. It is also obvious that the spring tension applied in a direction opposite to the pull of the cable M2 is adapted to move the sliding block I as from left to right along its path of travel, which movement is not opposed by It any substantial force and is adequately effected by the resilient pull of the spring 1.5%}.

From the foregoing detailed description. of theyarious elements of the feed mechanism and the manner in which the elements operate, it will position of the cam 2% on the transverse shaft 2.?

After a chip has been stamped, it willbe moved half way to the discharge position during the next revolution of the transverse shaft 2?, to the discharge position during the next revolution of the transverse shaft, and into the second magazine H5 during the next revolution of the transverse shaft. Thus, four revolutions of. that shaft are required to move a given chip through the entire procedure It "will also be apparent that, as one chip reaches a stamping position, a second chip will drop from the first magazine it into an aperture 64 in the feeder plate "68 and will in turn be moved through the same sequence of steps, and that this will be re peated. until all the chips initially placed in. the first magazine is have been stamped on. one side and. moved into the second magazine lit.

With articles such as poker chips, it is often desired. that the same impression be stamped onboth sides of each article. One of the features of my feed mechanism is the simple manner. in Which the chips collected in the second magazine [16' may be fed to the stamping machine a second time in relatively inverted positions so that both sides of each chip will be stamped. As pointed out above, the two magazines l6 and HE are not only identical but are also reversible end-forend on the feed mechanism. Thus, after the chips have been exhausted from the first magazine and collected in the second magazine in the same positions therein that they initially occupied in the first magazine. the stamping machine may be stopped, the two magazines removed, and the second magazine inverted and mounted in the chip'feeding position. The first magazine may then bemo-unted in the chip collecti'ng position, and. the weight 89 may be transferred therefrom to the second magazine for assisti'ng the free movement of chips therefrom. When the stamping machine is started again, the chips will be fed through the same sequence of operations a second time, but in relatively inverted positions from those which they assumed during their first pass through the feed mech anism, and will be collected in the first magazine with both sides of each chip stamped with the particular impression formed on the die 34-.

While I have illustrated my new feed mechanism by showing its use with a particular type of machine and for feeding thereto a particular type of articles to be stamped, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the principles. upon which the illustrated device hasbeen constructed are equally applicable to mechanisms for feeding a variety of kinds of articles toany of a variety of kindsof. operations upon the articles. It will. also be appreciated that many of. the details of the particular device illustrated herein may be varied widely and that many equivalent mechanical elements may be substituted for elements of the illustrated device, all without departing from the invention'ast defined in the appended claims.

Having: thus described and illustrated my in vention, I claim:

1, In a feed mechanism for stamping. machines. and the like, abase; a horizontally disposed feeder platemounted on said base for rotation about a vertical axis, said feeder plate being provided at uniform distances from: said axis with a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart apertures for receiving articles to be" fed, whereby said apertures will travel along the same circular path during rota"- tion of said feeder plate; a first magazineelement defining a cylindrical chamber open atboth ends for holding a supply of disk-shaped articles in axial alignment therein, said first magazine being mounted with its cylindrical axis vertically disposed and aligned with a first location along said circular path for dropping one of said articles into each of said apertures passing there under without altering the orientation of the articles; a second magazine identical with the first in the respects defined, said second magazine being mounted on said base with its cylindrical axis vertically disposed; a-track extending from a point directly below asecon-d location along said circular path to a third location directly below said second magazine; actuating means for rotating said feeder plate about its axis; and means responsive to operation of said actuating means eachtime 'a pocket reaches said second location for moving an article fromthat pocket onto and along said track to said, third location, said track being provided with an upwardly sloping rampdisposed below said second magazine adjacent said third location for causing each article moved along the track to rise upwardly into said second magazine as the leading edge of that article moves under other articles in said second magazine.

2. The device of claim 1 in which both of said magazines are reversible end-for-end, whereby, when said second magazine has received a supply of articles from said track, the two magazines may be interchanged and the second magazine inverted for dropping articles therefrom into the apertures of said feeder plate a second time in inverted positions with respect to their original orientation in said apertures.

EIMEER. T. KNJIITER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

